Special Service and Features
Ohmium announces Research Sponsorship at CSIR-CECRI, Karaikudi to develop next generation advanced materials for energy  storage
Ohmium International, Bengaluru, a company specialized in the design, manufacture, and deployment of PEM Electrolysers, and India’s CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute , Karaikudi one of the leading electrochemical research centres in the world, today announced an agreement whereby Ohmium will sponsor CSIR- CECRI, to develop new materials in the form of carbon free hydrogen carrier. The project has been kick-started on 4th February, 2022 for three years duration.
Dr. Chock Karuppiah, Chief Technology Officer, Ohmium, said: “CECRI is recognized as a world leader in electrochemical research. This sponsorship enables Ohmium to leverage CECRI’s deep expertise and resources, which will benefit both our current and the next generation technology plans.”
Dr. Kalaiselvi, Director, CSIR-CECRI, added: “We’re delighted to work with a technology leader like Ohmium. Our research efforts will focus on
material innovation, deployable as sustainable solution provider”
Arne Ballentine, CEO of Ohmium International, concluded: “One of the things that makes Ohmium really special is our ability to rapidly translate R&D advances into actual production. It’s a function of our people, our unique modular technology, and powerful collaborations like this one with CECRI.”
The world must make transition to Green Hydrogen to meet its Net-Zero emission targets. Ohmium’s collaboration with CSIR- CECRI will help ensure that not only is green hydrogen cost-effective, but also globally scalable to meet the world’s demand in various forms of its derivatives.
About CSIR- CECRI:
The Central Electrochemical Research Institute  located at Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu and founded on 25th July, 1948 as the twelfth national laboratory under the CSIR in order to cater the demands and needs of society. It represents continuously providing end-to-end solutions to several major problems of various Indian electrochemical industries as a consulting partner in research projects. CSIR-CECRI, today is a proud family of over 262 employees of whom 93 are scientists representing the largest research organization in electrochemistry in south Asia.
CSIR- CECRI has extension centres at Chennai and Mandapam. CSIR- CECRI focuses on several thematic research areas that encompass the entire spectrum of electrochemical science and technology, viz. Corrosion and Materials Protection, Electrochemical Power Sources, Electroplating and Metal Finishing, Electrodics and Electrocatalysis, Electrochemical Process Engineering Electro-organic & Materials Electrochemistry and Computer and Networking Unit. Further, CSIR- CECRI also runs several joint research ventures with various industries, laboratories and academic institutions both nationally and internationally. Currently, CSIR-CECRI has many active international bilateral research collaborations under Indo-US, Indo -Japan, Indo-German, Indo-Australia and Indo-Egypt programmes. The sponsored projects from Boeing , Colgate Palmolive  and collaborative project with Applied Materials Inc.  are few glittery examples to show the International recognition of CSIR-CECRI’s research. Besides, CSIR-CECRI has signed MOUs with various Indian academic institutions such as NIT, Tiruchirapalli, VIT, Vellore, etc. CSIR- CECRI is the only research institute in the entire nation that runs a unique four year B.Tech course in Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering, which is affiliated to Anna University, Chennai.
Committed in nation building, CSIR-CECRI actively engages in taking up technology development programmes in key areas such as atomic energy, space and defence. Some of the past accomplishments in these key areas include technologies for calcium metal, corrosion protection of missile components, conducting polymers for EMI shielding, radar transmitter cabinets etc. CSIR-CECRI has also made significant contributions in the electroforming technology as applied to cryogenic rocket engine thrust chamber. More recently, CSIR-CECRI has developed a few important biosensors and the technology which has been transferred to healthcare industries. A hand-held smart soil test kit has been developed at CSIR-CECRI for measuring soil pH, electrical conductivity, and macronutrients  with the soil extract prepared onsite. CSIR-CECRI is pioneering in the research area of materials protection and has achieved technological breakthrough especially in corrosion prevention and protection of concrete structures, reinforcement rods and oil pipelines. Electrochemical energy storage is one of the CSIR-CECRI’s major research focuses where nanomaterials have been used to explore the potential benefits. The science and technologies for Li-ion batteries  and beyond LIBs such as Na-ion batteries, Li-Sulphur, Li-Air and Zn-Air systems are the key areas of focus of CECRI. The NABL accredited Battery Performance Testing and Evaluation Centre  is a unique facility at CSIR-CECRI for testing Lead-acid batteries. Environment friendly electroplating and metal finishing is one of the vital areas of research at CSIR- CECRI. 3D metal printing additive manufacturing facility is available for fabricating functional devices by combining design and manufacture of objects in a single process, as it has numerous applications in aerospace, automobile and biomedical industries. CSIR-CECRI has developed several electro-organic processes over the years and some of these processes include amino guanidine bicarbonate, unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine, calcium gluconate and potassium iodate were successfully commercialized.
CSIR-CECRI’s research focus on the generation of green hydrogen by PEM-based water electrolysis, photochemical oxidation of water using molecular catalyst and water oxidation by functional electro catalysts and novel composite electrolytes.
CSIR-CECRI also conducts research-oriented academic programmes  under the aegis of Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research . The institute has well-equipped library as well as the state-of-the-art analytical and characterization facilities to meet the demand of scientific knowledge of scientists of CECRI and also to cater the needs of academia and industry. CSIR- CECRI also organizes national and international conferences for dissemination of scientific knowledge through its scientific societies viz. Society for Advancement of Electrochemical Science & Technology  and National Corrosion Council of India . CSIR-CECRI is alive to societal obligations and participates in the activities such as ‘Skill Development' and JIGYASA programmes. CSIR-CECRI is a recipient of several prestigious awards and recognition.
-----------
(